Batsmen Walk Away With 3-2 Triumph

The Harvard-Boston College baseball game at Soldiers Field yesterday had everything--managers with a combined 710 lifetime victories in 55 years, a great pitching duel, and the suspense of an extra-inning ballgame.

Well, almost everything.

Because when B.C. relief pitcher Jim Robinson walked Chris McAndrews on four straight pitches with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning, this masterpiece was suddenly soured.

But hey, a win's a win, and if you're a Harvard fan you can't argue with the outcome of this game: Crimson 3, Eagles 2.

Harvard raised its overall and Greater Boston League record to 2-0, while BC fell to 4-9 overall.

"That was one of the best college ballgames I've ever seen," B.C. Coach Eddie Pellagrini said. "It's a shame for anyone to lose that ballgame."

Crimson helmsman Alex Nahigian echoed his counterpart. "It was a great college game. Both teams played outstanding defense."

And displayed outstanding pitching.

After giving up a hit in each of the first two innings, Harvard starter Chris March set down the Eagles in order for the next four innings. When he left the game after eight frames, he had given up just two runs, four hits, and one base on balls.

"Our pitchers challenged their hitters," Nahigian said. "Every pitch meant something."

"My forkball wasn't working well today, so I threw a lot of fastballs and sliders," the left-handed Marchok said. "You pitch with so much more confidence when you know that the fielders are going to make the play. Everybody played great."

Catcher Frank Morelli, for instance, who earlier nailed a B.C. player attempting to steal, snagged a good Mike Azzolini bunt up the firstbase line in the sixth inning and threw to first baseman Rich Renninger in time.

In the fourth inning, centerfielder Paul Vallone chased down a shot by James Adams in right-centerfield, and, two innings later, teammate Chris McAndrews--also facing the glaring sunlight--tracked down a B.C. line drive hit far to his left.

Marchok's counterpart, Thomas Otto, also threw a solid game. He scattered six hits and two runs in his eight innings of work, striking out five Crimson batters and walking three.

"[Otto] wasn't that quick," Harvard catcher Frank Morelli said, "but he had good location and control."

In the second inning, though, Otto surrendered a run to the Crimson.

Harvard designated hitter Jim DePalo drew a walk, stole two bases, and scored easily on Mike Pakalnis's base-hit to left field.

But with the exception of singles by Renninger and DePalo (who stole another base in the fourth inning), the Crimson couldn't put together much more offense until the seventh. By that time, however, it was facing a one-run deficit.

Eagle batter Adams broke Marchok's streak of 15 consecutive retired hitters by singling on a one-bouncer to right field in the top of the seventh. After a beautiful bunt by John Schwegman, Marty Naughton laid down a sacrifice that Marchok--who slipped on the play--threw wildly to first base, allowing Adams to score. Schwegman ended up on third.

Mike Kopfler followed by grounding to shortstop Mike Pakalnis, whose throw home was too late to get Schwegman.

Vallone's sacrifice fly--one of four Crimson sacrifices on the day--drove in Morelli from third in the bottom of the inning, tying the game at two runs apiece.

Relief pitchers for both squads were as effective as their predecessors.

Eagles southpaw John Dolan entered the contest with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, and promptly picked McAndrews off second base.

Kevin Curtin, the New Harvard hurler in the ninth, pitched impressively in his first varsity pitching appearance. Baffling Eagle hitters in his two-inning stint, the junior--relying on his curve and slider--struck out three of the six B.C. batters he faced.

"I was getting the breaking balls over," Curtin said. "I was lucky I didn't fall behind or else I would've had to throw fastballs."

Dolan encountered trouble in the bottom of the 10th, walking Vallone on four straight pitches. Frank Caprio--continuing Harvard's success on sacrifices--moved Vallone into scoring position with a bunt up the first base line.

Pellagrini pulled Dolan in favor of sophomore Jim Robinson, who yielded a single to Bob Kay and an international walk to DePalo.

McAndrews stepped to the plate with the sacks full, and four pitches later the ballgame was over.

THE NOTEBOOK The Crimson next plays this Saturday, hosting Boston University. Crimson 3, Eagles 2 at Soldiers Field

BOSTON COLLEGE

ab  r  h  bi Furlong cf  3  0  0  0 Gquinto 1b  3  0  1  0 Otto p  4  0  0  0 Adams If  4  1  1  0 Schwgmn c  4  1  1  0 Naughtn 3b  3  0  1  0 Berstka 3b  1  0  0  0 Brown rf  1  0  0  0 Kopfler rf  3  0  0  1 Holland ss  3  0  0  0 Nyhan ss  1  0  0  0 Azzolini 2b  4  0  0  0 Total  34  2  4  1

HARVARD

ab  r  h  bi Vallone cf  2  1  0  1 Caprio If  4  0  1  0 Kay 2b  5  0  1  0 DePalo dh  2  1  1  0 McAndws rf  4  0  1  1 Pakalnis 3b  4  0  1  1 Morelli c  3  1  1  0 Rooney 3b  3  0  0  0 Rnningr 1b  4  0  2  0 Total  31  3  8  3 Boston College  000  000  200  0--2 Harvard  010  000  100  1--3

There was one out when the winning run scored.

Game-Winning RBI--McAndrews. DP--Boston College 1, Harvard 1. E--Marchok, Naughton 2, Schwegman. LOB--Boston College 4, Harvard 10. SB--Schwegman, DePalo 3. CS--Giaquinto, Caprio, McAndrews. S--Vallone, Caprio, Rooney, Giaquinto. SF--Vallone.

IP  H  R  ER  BB  SO

Boston College Otto  7.2  6  2  2  3  5 Dolan L0-1  1.2  1  1  1  0  1 Robinson  0  1  0  0  2  0

Harvard Marchok  8  4  2  2  1  5 Curtin W1-0  2  0  0  0  0  3

Robinson faced three batters in tenth.

T--2:45. A--52.